Apparatus for uncoiling sheet metal



Sept. 29, 1953 H, D. MILLER ET AL 2,653,643

APPARATUS FOR UNCOILING SHEET METAL Filed Sept. 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheetl an r 27 A ZPE- HARVEY o. MILLER JOHN c. HOLDGATE ATTOR EY IN VENTORS p1953 H. D. MILLER ET AL APPARATUS FOR UNCOILING SHEET METAL A 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1951 INVENTORS MILLER HOLDGATE HARVEY D.JOHN c.

BY M

ATTORNEY P 29, 1953 H. D. MILLER El AL 2,653,643

APPARATUS FOR UNCOILING SHEET METAL Filed Sept. 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR HARVEY D. MILLER JOHN C. HOLDGATE ATTORNEY Patented Sept.29,1953

APPARATUS FOR UNCOILING SHEET METAL Harvey D. Miller, Youngstown, andJohn O. Holdgate, Cortland, Ohio, asslgnors to The McKay MachineCompany, Youngstown, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application September 19, 1951, Serial No. 247,282

This invention relates to the art of uncoiling metal strip and morparticularly to improved apparatus of a simplified nature which isoperative to pay off metal strip from coils thereof in such manner thatthe normal formation of coil breaks is effectively avoided.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of vastlysimplified yet entirely practical apparatus for advantageously makinguse of the heretofore known method of avoiding th formation of coilbreaks in uncoiling sheet metal which consists of rigidly confiningtransversely the metal of the strip at the exact point of its departurefrom the coil proper and of either maintaining the paid-off strip insubstantial tension or cold Working the strip by flexing it reverselyabout a working roll before the strip is completely stress relieved asin a roller leveler, for example, before its utilization in a drawingpress, for example. To carry out this method of uncoiling it has beenheretofore proposed to apply a working roll in pressure engagement withthe outer periphery of the coil from which strip is to be extracted, thestrip being directed to leave the coil proper along the line of contactof theworking roll with the coil, and. because of the difficulty ofmaintaining the leading end portion of the strip piece when lyingbetween the coil and the leveler under tension it is highly desirable toseverely stress the strip by severe flexing about the working roll tothus effect a preliminary working of the strip sufficient to destroy itspropensity to coil break before being fully processed in the rollerleveler.

In the apparatus of the present invention the above outlinedadvantageous method of uncoiling metal strip is retained but theapparatus required possesses, in addition to its simplification, theimproved operating characteristics of automatically regulating thepressure applied by the working or take off roll on the outer peripheryof the coil in accordance with the needs of the particular materialbeing handled and of insuring the application of sufficient tension tothe strip to avoid the formation of coil breaks in the strip during itspassage from the coil to the roller leveler or other strip working orutilization equipment. 7

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an uncoilingmachine having the above enumerated advantageous characteristics andwhich in addition incorporates certain novel features of constructionand operation whereby the operation of threading a coil of material intoan associated processing machine, for example, is greatly facilitatedand hastened.

16 Claims. (Cl. 153-54) The above and other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed specification and accompanying'drawing wherein there isdisclosed a certain preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figures 1 and 2 are plan and end views, respectively, of an uncoilerconstructed in accordance with the principles of our invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-HI of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic showing of the principles of operation of theuncoiler of Figures 1 through 3;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of our inventionwith parts broken away generally as is indicated by line V-V of Figure6;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section view taken along line VII-VII ofFigure 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section view of the apparatus of Figur 5 takengenerally along line .VIIIVIII of Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a novel method of threadingstrip material into an associated processing machine, for example, as istaught by our invention.

As shown in the drawing, the apparatus of our invention may comprise abase structure It on which is mounted a pair of spaced, parallel, andupstanding housings II and I2 in each of which is formed an inclinedslot l3 constituting a guide r for the sliding movement of a bearingchock l4.

Journaled in the chocks 14 are the end portions or necks of a roll I5which will be referred to herein as the working roll of the assembly.This roll is normally biased to upper position by a pair of counterweights l6 which slide vertically in recesses l1 formed in the housingsII and I2 and which are connected to the chocks M by means of chains l8entrained over sprockets l9.

Rotatably supported on the base I8 intermediate the housings II and I2and parallel with respect to each other and to the working roll I5 is apair of spaced cradle rolls 2!) the function of which is to rotatablysupport a coil of metal strip in the uncoiling structure. To assist inopening a coil and in threading the leading end thereof through pinchrolls (3|, for example) or other equipment with which the uncoiler ofthe invention is associated, we provide for the driven rotation of thecradl rolls 2!) and for this purpose we may employ a motor 2| operatingthrough a speed reducer 22 which has its output connected to the cradlerolls through suitable sprocket and chains 23. In accordance with usualpractice, we may provide an over-running clutch, not shown, in thecradle roll drive to permit the cradle rolls to run freely in a forwarddirection when the strip is being pulled off the coil by th said pinchrolls, for example, as will be understood by those familiar with theart.

Each of the two housings I I and I2 have a plurality (preferably four)of spaced horizontally extending and bushed guiding bores 24 therein,

and slidably received in each of the bores 24 is a rod 25. Rigidlysecured tothe inner ends of, the rods 25 is a pair of side guide plates25, one of which is shown in plan in Figure 3. On: the inner face ofeach of the side guides 26 is assembled a round projection 21 and .byreferring-to Figure 3 it will be noted thatthe'projec'tions 21 arelocated substantially above and equidistant from the two cradle rollsand substantially in the common plane of the two guiding slots I} in thehousings II and I2. For moving the side u de l fil and out o contact aoil irregu ed, to center the coil with other apparatus, or to simplyloosely confine the coil during the uncoiling operation each of the sideguides 26; isconnected to a piston rod 28 of a fluid cylinder 29. Thecylinders 29 aredouble-acting and it will be understood that duringnormal operation the side guides 26 can be made to move in andout asdesired.

By referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that, there isassociated with each of the chain sprockets IS a second parallelsprocket I9 and in practice these pairs of sprockets are keyed to commonshafts so that both rotate together. Sprockets I9 are connected by meansof endless chains 40 to sprockets 39, which are keyed to. asynchronizing shaft 39 which isjournaled in the base structure III inspanning relation to the two housings II and I2. This constructioninsures that the two bearing chocks I4 will slide upwardly anddownwardly in unison in the inclined slots I3-,to thereby maintain the,working roll I5 in parallel relation to the axes of the cradle rolls 2lland other common axes of projections .21 in' all positions of theworking roll.

In. the. normal use of .the uncoiler above described the same will bepositioned in relation to the pinch rolls 3| or other pulling device inthe user's plant in the manner shown in Figure 1 whereby. the strip willbe pulled off the uncoiler in a generally horizontal direction which isnormill to theaxis of the working'roll I5-and which is in the directionof slant of the slots I3. At the start of a cycle of operation theworking roll I5 will be raised to its uppermost position and the sideguides 26 will be retracted to allow the coil to be loaded from thefront of the machine. The coil'is so oriented that the outer end of thestrip stock terminates in a rearward direction and either manually or bymeans" of suitable equipment, not shown, the leading end portion of thestrip is pulled off the coil and looped over the working roll I5 andthreaded into pinch rolls 3Il As the'latter begin to 'apply'tension tothe strip the strip will assume a tight curvature about the workingroll- [5 andin doing sofwillincrease the tension required to be appliedby the'rpinch rolls to continue the feeding ofthe strip. Asth'is tensionbuilds up in a horizontal direction, as represented by vector A inFigure4, the working roll I5 will be forced downwardly, as represented byvector B, due to the inclined directionof the guide slots I3 andtheworking roll l5 will thereupon be held in tight pressure engagementwith the outer periphery of the coil 30 being paid off. The apparatusthus operates to rigidly confine the metal strip transversely at thepoint of departure of the strip from the coil proper and to immediatelythereafter subject the strip while under tension to cold working byflexure about the working roll. I5. This working of the strip relievesthe coil sets or stresses inherent in the strip and thereby prevents theformation of coil breaks in the strip regardless of the manner in whichthe strip is subsequently handled. It is recognized that the propensityof strip material to coil break is influenced by the gauge of the stock,by the analysis and temper of the steel, prior working, etc., but ingeneral it will be found that stifler rnaterial-is more prone to developcoil breaks. In the inherent operation of our apparatus stifier materialrequires a much larger pulling force for the uncoiling operation andthis in turn results in the. working roll I5 applying a much heavierradial pressure to the periphery of the coil. Therefore, the apparatusof our invention will automatically apply sufficient working to thestrip to avoid the formation of coil breaks regard+ less of variationsin the gauge, temper or other specifications of the coil strip.

During uncoiling, the side guides 26 will be loosely applied to oppositesides of the coil to prevent the respective convolutions of the coilfrom telescoping due to the combination of the diametric compressionexerted between the cradle rolls 20 and the working roll I5. Ifirregular action should develop, however, and the pinch rolls arestopped and opened or reversed the resulting collapse of the pull-outtension will, of course, automatically relieve this compression tothereby permit the side guides 25 to re-align the side edges of theconvolutions of the coil.

The primary function of the projections 21 :is to maintain the coil insubstantially proper-operating position during preparations foruncoiling and. during the uncoiling operation proper, particularly whenthe coil is down to a few convolutions when the bend of the stock aboutthe work ing roll I5 tends to kick these few remaining convolutions outthe back of the uncoiler.

In Figures 5-9 of the drawing we have shown a modified form of ourinvention wherein are incorporated certain additional novel featureswhich facilitate the loadingand threading of the uncoiling apparatus andof processing apparatus which may be associated therewith. As shown inFigures 5 and 6, housings I I and I2 have been provided with relativelywide guide slots I3. Slidably mounted in the slots I3 for verticallyinclined movement are bearing chocks I4" which are, of course,counterweighted and interconnected for synchronized movement in themanner explained in describing the embodiment'shown in Figures 1-4.Mounted in the lower end pQ ftions of the checks I4-' for rotatablemovement therein are carrier blocks III and 42. Each of the carrierblocks AI and 42 journals one end of a pair of cooperatingpinchrolls 43and 44. In theillustrated embodiment suitable gears 4-5 and 45amassociated with the pinch rolls 43 and i4 and operate to insuresynchronous motion of the rolls at all times.

As may be observed in Figures 5 and 8 the carrier blocks and 42 aremounted in eccentric relation to the shaft sections. thereof 41 and 48which are journaled in chocks I4. It will further be noted that thelower pinch roll '44 is axially aligned with theshaft sections 41 and48. This arrangement provides that shaft 49, which is connected to andoperates to drive the pinch roll 44, may extend directly through theshaft section 4'! to an external driving connection. The upper roll 43is of course driven by the lower roll 44 through gears 45 and 46.

While it will be understood that various wellknown types of drivingmeans may be used to operate the pinch roll 44, we have shown forpurposes of illustration a conventional gearhead motor Ell which ismounted in depending relation to a bracket 5|; the bracket in turn beingrigidly secured to the chock l4 at the left hand side of the apparatus.Connecting the motor 5s and the shaft 49 is a conventional overrunningclutch 5| which of course permits the pinch rolls 4% and 44 to overrunthe driving means as the strip material is payed oil by power meansexternal of the uncoiler, as for example, by the drive rolls of aconventional roller leveller or other processing machine, not shown.

As shown in Figure 4, a coil is positioned in the uncoiling apparatus insuch manner that the strip pays off the periphery of the coil in adirection away from the rolls 3| of an associated processing machine.Thus it is necessary to bend the material reversely about the workingroll l5 in order to thread it into the rolls 3|. Considerable effort maybe required for this operation, particularly when working with heavygage material.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5-9 we have provided a simple yetefiective power driven means for obtaining the required reverse bend inthe material. As shown in Figure 9 we may, by rotatin the carrier blocks4| and 42 through an angle of 180, position the normally upper roll 43below the roll 44. Thus a strip end 52 may be inserted directly betweenthe rol'ls 43 and 44 in a direction away from an associated processingmachine, not shown. The strip end having been thus inserted, asindicated by the broken lines of Figure 9, the carrier blocks and 42 maybe pivoted upwardly to return the roll 43 to its normal position. It maybe observed that in this operation the strip 52 will be bent reverselyabout the lower roll 44, which roll thereafter functions as the workingroll l5 described in the embodiment of Figures 1-4.

To rotate the carrier blocks 4| and 42 in the manner above described wehave mounted a pinion 53 at the outer ends of th shaft sections ll and43. Operatively associated with each of the pinions 53 is a rack 54which is carried by the piston member 55 of a conventional fiuid(preferably air) cylinder 56. Preferably the cylinders 56 should bedesigned so that when the piston member 55 is fully retracted thecarriers 4| and 42 will be vertically disposed, with the roll 43 abovethe roll 44, and when the piston 55 is fully extended the carriers willbe vertically disposed with the roll 43 in the lower position as shownby the broken lines of Figure 9.

To insure synchronous rotational motion of the carriers 4| and 42 wehave provided channel members 5i and 58 which are rigidly secured to andextend between the carriers. As shown in Figure 5 the channels 5'! and58 are positioned on each side of the line of contact between the rolls43 and 44. This is necessary, of course, to permit the material to passfreely through the rolls.

In a normal loading and threading operation using the apparatus abovedescribed, a coil, not

shown, is positioned on the cradle rolls 20 in the usual manner. Withthe pistons 55 fully extended, placing the roll 43 in the lowerposition, the leading end 52 of the coiled material may be inserteddirectly into the pinch rolls 43 and 44. The motor 50 may then beenergized to drive the rolls and draw the material therethrough. As soonas a sufiicient length of strip has passed through the rolls the pistons55 may be'retracted to rotate the carriers 4! and 42 upwardly, bendingthe strip about the normally lower roll 44 and directing it toward anassociated processing machine, not shown. The motor 5%, of course,continues in operation until the material is threaded into the driverolls, not shown, of the processing machine, whereupon the material willbe rapidly payed off from external power means.

It will be understood that the theory of operation (i. e., theutilization of the force required to pay off the material to exert aconfining force on the periphery of the coil) is similar in all respectsto that of the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4; it being noted thatsubsequent to th threading operation the lower roll 44 of the latterembodiment becomes a working roll and performs the same function as theworking roll of the former embodiment.

It should now be apparent that we have provided improved apparatus whichaccomplishes the objects initially set out above. The apparatusis'entirely automatic and foolproof in operation, is simple in design,and may be economically produced. Its practical importance lies in thefact that it provides operative apparatus for furnishing breakfree stripin many smaller fabricating and processing plants which do not requirelarge tonnage capacity and/or further working of the strip as isperformed by the expensive and more complicated processing uncoilers,strip processers, and roller levellers.

In the two embodiments described herein we provide the smallmanufacturer who requires only relatively light gage material withapparatus which may be installed and operated at minimum cost, andfurther provide, at but slightly greater cost, apparatus which is suitedfor the manufacturer who must use heavier gage material. 1

Having thus described our invention what we claim is novel and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A metal strip uncoiler for use with stock pulling means comprising abase, a pair of horizontally spaced and upwardly extending housingsmounted on said base, a pair of spaced parallel coil-supporting cradlerolls j ournaled on said base between said housings, each of saidhousings having a plurality of spaced guiding bores therein disposedparallel with the axes of rotation of said rolls, guide rodsslidably'received in said bores, a pair of side guides rigidly securedto the inner ends of said rods and adapted to engage opposite sides of acoil of strip supported on said rolls, means on said base to move saidside guides toward and away from each other, an annular projection onthe inner face of each side guide positioned above and substantiallyequidistant from said rolls and adapted to enter into the center openingof a coil of strip supported on said rolls, each of said housings havinga guiding slot extending substantially radially outward of saidprojections and in normal installations upwardly inclined away from thestock pulling means, a bearing chock slidably received in each of said ined ve s id cradle rollsand m unted o S ho g m vement toward and awafrom a o e an annu ar p oje tion on the inner face of each sideguidepositionedaboveand su ta tial y e u dista t rfrom sa d ol s aadapted to. enter in o th center ope in 01.1

o of s r pz upportedro sai ro s,.eaeh of said u n ha ne asuidineslotxten in ;s b tant al y radially outward ofrsaid pr j ct ons and i normalinstallation upwardly inclined away f om t to k pu li s'mean a h aringchock a ly re e ved-.i .ea .h of said sla aa working ;roll having itsend portionsjournaled in said shocks. eac ofsai h u insshaving a v r icy .dispos d .reQ esfor the .Slidable re ept o of a cminte wei t,;;a=.coi ter wei ht di po ed i eac ,of said recesses,,a sheave at the upper end,of each of saidhousings, and a ,fiexible connection .between thechockandthe counter weight on each of aid housings, said jconn c on be nentrained over said sheaves, the arrangement ein su h .thattupon t str pof a coil whic is pp rted on said cradl 0.11s bei pped around saidworking-roll and;pulled. outwardly by said stock pulling means saidworking roll will be f ed downw rdl in p p essu cont wi h p r ph a.suria e-p said c l.

3 A m talstrip un oi e or usewit st k pu i ea s compr sin a. a of horontal p dand pward y ex e d nei us ns a pa f spa ed paral el c ad e rols p sit ne rb t e the l a po on i f s id h usi i scanning relationthereto, mandrel means ,mounted for horizontal movement along the axispositioned above and substantially equidistant from saidcradle-rolls;anda apted toenier the ent op n ng Of a .coi ofstr p sup odvon a d'..r.o .ls each of said housings having a guiding ;slot;extending substantially outward of saidaxis and in normal installationsupwardly inclined away from the stock pullingmeans, a-bearing chockslidably received in each of saidslotaand @1WQYk" ing roll having :itsend-portions journaledin said chocks, the arrangement-being suchthat-upon the strip of acoil supported on saidcradle rolls or onsaid'mandrel means being lwrappedaround said working roll and pulledoutwardly by said stock pulling means said working roll will be forceddownwardly into pressure contactwith the peripheral surface'of saidcoil.

4- ppa atus a cor in t claim .3 furthe including a sheaveat the upperend of eachl of said slots, at counterweight-on eachof said-housings andguided for'vertical movement with respect ,thereto, and a flexibleconnector on each of said housings. entrained over the-sheave thereonand interconnecting the counter weightand chockthere n- 5. DDa-ratus..fQ.zuncoiling ..-m ,,strip 1 and adapted to. paused-with o inul i e-me -n,c mrising means to .ro atab y supp rt a coil of strip i rotati n a outa ene a ly d xi di pos d h riz nt y a orkin roll d s e .su stantiallyparallel with said axis, and means mounting said working roll forsliding movement in a direction normal to the axis thereof and upwardlyinclined away from said stock pulling .means, the arrangement being suchthat upon the strip of coil which is supported on said-coilsupportingmeans being wrapped around said working roll and pulled outwardly bysaid stock pulling means said working roll will be forced .downwardlyinto pressure contact with the peripheral surface of said coil.

-6. Apparatusaccording to claim 5 further including means to yieldablybiassaid working roll to upper position, and means to maintain the axisof said working roll parallel to said first mentioned axis in anyposition of said working roll.

7. A metal strip uncoiler for use with stock pulling means comprisingmeans to rotatably supporta coil of strip for rotation about a generallyfixed axis extending horizontally, a pair of housings extending upwardlyfrom sides of a coil of strip when so supported and each having aguiding slot extendingsubstantially radially outward of said axis andupwardly inclined away from saidstockpulling means, a bearing chockslidably received in each of said slots, a working roll having its endportions journaled in said chocks, a shaft rotatably mounted on theupper end of each of said housings and each having keyed thereto a pairof spacedparallel sprockets, acounter weight on each of said housingsand guided for vertical movement with respect thereto, .a chaininterconnecting the chock and the counter weight on each .of saidhousings and entrained over the one of said pair of sprockets on each ofsaid housings, a synchronizing shaft spanningsaid housings'and havingkeyed thereto a pair of widely spaced'sprockets, and a pair of endlesschains interconnecting the others of said pairs of sprockets on saidfirst mentioned shafts and the said sprockets on said synchronizingshafts.

-8. A metal strip uncoiler for use with stock pulling means comprisingmeans to rotatably supporta coil of strip for rotation about a generallyfixed axis extending horizontally, a pair of side housings extendingabove said coil, each of said housings ,havingia guiding slot upwardlyinclined away from said stock pulling means, a bearing chockslidablymounted in each of said slots,-a working rollhaving its end portionsjournaled in said chocks, means interconnecting said checks tosynchronize the sliding movement thereof whereby said working roll isheld in parallel relation to said axis in any position of said workingroll, the arrangement being such that upon the strip of acoil which ismounted on said coil-supporting means being wrapped around said workingroll and pulled outwardly by said stock pulling means said working rollwill be forced downwardly into pressure contact with the peripheralsurface of said coil.

,9. Apparatus accordingto claim 8 further including means to yieldablymaintainsaid working roll in upper position whereby upon completion ofthe paying off of the strip of one coil the workmg r011 willautomatically raise to permit the loadingof a next succeedingcoil ontosaid coilsupporting means.

10 A metal strip uncoiled for use with stock Pul in a s c mprisin meansto rotatably support coilv st p ma erial. a pair ofrside housingsextending above said coil, each of said housings having a guiding slotupwardly inclined away from said stock pulling means, a bearing chockslidably mounted in each of said slots, a rotatably mounted working rollsupported by said chocks, means interconnecting said chocks tosynchronize the sliding movement thereof whereby said working roll isheld in parallel relation to said axis in any position of said workingroll, the arrangement being such that upon the strip of a coil which ismounted on said coil-supporting mean being Wrapped around said workingroll and pulled outwardly by said stock pulling means said working rollwill be forced downwardly into pressure contact with the peripheralsurface of said coil.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further characterized by a carrierblock rotatably mounted in each of said chocks, a pair of pinch rollsrotatably journaled by said carrier blocks, means mounted on at leastone of said chocks and operatively associated with at least one of saidcarrier blocks adapted to rotate said blocks about a horizontal axisextending through both of said blocks, and drive means mounted on atleast one of said chocks and operatively associated with at least one ofsaid rolls adapted to rotate said rolls, the arrangement being such thatstrip material from a coil supported on said coil-supporting means maybe inserted into said pinch rolls and drawn therethrough uponenergization of said drive means and that upon energization of saidmeans to rotate said blocks, said blocks will be caused to rotatewhereby said strip is wrapped about one of said rolls, said last men- 1tioned roll thereafter becoming a working roll.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by said drivemeans being operatively associated with said rolls through anoverrunning clutch, said clutch being adapted to disengage said drivemeans when said pinch rolls are caused to rotate at a higher speed thanthat caused by said drive means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by saidcarrier blocks being mounted for rotary movement about an axis throughone of said pinch rolls, said drive means being connected to the lastmentioned of said pinch rolls, and means interconnecting said pinchrolls whereby said rolls are caused to have equal surface velocities atthe line of contact therebetween.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by said meansto rotate said blocks including a fluid cylinder associated with one ofsaid blocks, said cylinder being operative upon actuation thereofthroughout a complete stroke to rotate said block through an angle ofsubstantially 180.

15. In uncoiling apparatus for use with stock pulling means and of thetype wherein strip material being uncoiled is bent reversely about aworking roll and wherein the coiled material is confined at the point ofdeparture of the material 10 from the coil by means of pressure cont-actbetween said working roll and the coil; the combination of means torotatably support a coil, a pair of pinch rolls, carrier blocksrotatably journaling said pinch rolls in paralle1 relation to the axisof said coil, mounting means for said carrier blocks adapted to permitrotational movement of said blocks about an axis parallel to said pinchrolls and to permit movement oi said last mentioned axis toward and awayfrom said coil substantially along a path radiating from the axis ofsaid coil at an angle inclined away from said stock pulling means, andmeans to rotate said carrier blocks whereby one of said rolls may bemoved from a position above the other of said rolls to a position belowthe other of said rolls, the arrangement being such that strip materialmay be threaded between said pinch rolls in the direction of inclinationof said path and said carrier blocks may be rotated to wrap said stripabout the lower of said rolls in a reverse bend, whereby upon said stripbeing thereafter pulled by said stock pulling means outward of saidrolls said strip will exert a force on said lower roll, a component ofwhich force will be directed generally along said path whereby said lastmentioned roll is urged into pressure contact with said coil.

16. In uncoiling apparatus for use with stock pulling means and of thetype wherein strip material being uncoiled is bent reversely about aworking roll and wherein the coiled material is confined at the point ofdeparture of the material from the coil by means of pressure contactbetween said working roll and the coil; the combination of means torotatably support a coil, mounting means rotatably mounting said roll inparallel relation to the axis of said coil, said mounting means beingadapted to permit movement of said roll toward and away from said coilsubstantially along a path radiating from the axis of said coil at anangle inclined away from said stock pulling means, the arrangement beingsuch that when strip material from said coil is bent around said roll ina reverse bend and is drawn by said stock pulling means outward of saidroll in a direction away from the direction of inclination of said planesaid strip will exert a force on said roll, a component of which forcewill be directed generally along said path whereby said roll is urgedinto pressure contact with said roll.

HARVEY D. MILLER. JOHN C. HOLDGATE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

